Grating

ABSTRACT

Grating consisting of spaced parallel rails fastened to transverse carrier bars, each rail having a lower zig-zag profile portion that slides into a similarly shaped notch in a bar and an upper portion which extends at an acute angle to the bar.

United States Patent 11 1 Arens Feb. 11, 1975 GRATING 2,602,971 7/1952Shaw 52/473 x 3,222,740 12/1965 Valverde 52/475 x [76] inventor: ErichArens, Ewald-Rubsamen-Weg 37243337 5/1966 New" et al 52/669 X 3 u te a3,263,388 8/1966 Bogert 52/489 Germany 3,523,396 8/1970 DeJonge 52/6683,660,956 5/1972 Budlong 52/669 [22] Ffledf- SePt- 3.742.671 7/1973E1115 52/666 x [2]] Appl. No.: 395,615

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 12, 1972 Germany 2244661[52] US. Cl. 52/664, 52/473 [51] Int. Cl. E04c 2/42 [58] Field of Search52/177, 180, 664, 669,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ladd 52/669 X PrimaryExaminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norman S. Blodgett;Gerry A. Blodgett [57] ABSTRACT Grating consisting of spaced parallelrails fastened to transverse carrier bars, each rail having a lowerzigzag profile portion that slides into a similarly shaped notch in abar and an upper portion which extends at an acute angle to the bar.

7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB] 1 I975 SHEET 10F 6 PATENTEDFEB I I I975 SHEET l 0F 6 SHEET 8 OF 6 PATENTED FEB] 1 I975 Fig. 15

GRATING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bar gratings of this kind arealready known in various forms. They are usually intended in each casefor a quite definite purpose and, accordingly, cannot readily be usedfor other purposes. For example, bar gratings designed for coveringoverflow and heating channels in swimming pools cannot be used forcovering ventilation apertures in the floor, walls, or ceilings. Bargratings for covering overflow and heating channels in swimming poolsare designed in the first place to ensure that they are strong enough tostand on. In the second place, they are intended to enable the waterrunning from the swimming pool to run into the overflow receptacles, orto enable hot air to emerge from the heating channels. On the contrary,bar gratings for closing ventilation apertures need not be capable ofbeing stood on, but merely have the purpose of deflecting the incomingor emerging aireflow in a definite direction. These and otherdifficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviatedin a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to providegrating combining several properties in one bar grating and, thus,ensure that it has a wide field of use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of grating designbased on the problem of providing a grating in which the bars are heldin spaced relationship and linked to one another by carrier barsextending transversely of their longitudinal direction, which grating isrelatively light while being highly stable in shape, which can be madein the most varied sizes without difdirections to flowing media such asair and water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a bar grating forcovering apertures, pits or the like, more particularly for overflowreceptacles and heating channels in swimming baths, or for ventilationapertures in floors, walls and ceilings, wherein the grating bars areheld at a distance and linked to one another .by carrier bars extendingtransversely to their longitudinal direction.

The solution of the problem according to the invention is chieflycharacterized in that the grating bars consist of profiled rails whichhave laterally directed angled portions above their connection to thecarrier bars.

According to one form of the invention the angled portions of all thegrating bars extend in the same direction. In this case, the angledportion of the grating bars may furthermore join the foot portion at anobtuse angle.

It is possible to make the thickness of the angled portion the same asthe thickness of the foot portion. However, the thickness of the angleportion may also increase in the manner of a wedge from the foot portionto the free end.

A particularly advantageous form of configuration of the grating bars isachieved when the angled portion which extends at an obtuse angle fromthe foot portion is followed at an acute angle by a nose extending at aright angle to the foot portion. In this connection, it may furthermorebe significant for the free end of the nose to be in the same plane asthe lateral surface of the foot portion from which the angled portionextends.

For the purpose of easy fastening, the profiled rails constituting thegrating bars may according to the invention comprise teeth forming azig-zag surface on the being directed towards the base of the slot andthose on the foot portions being directed away from the end of the foot.y

In those cases in which the bar gratings are used as a covering forventilation openings, the profiled rails constituting the grating barsare anchored according to the invention by way of their foot portions inlinking pieces which rest positively by means of retaining shoes oncut-back ledges extending along a flange on carrier bars of Z-shapedcross-section. The second flange on the carrier bars may in this caseconsitutute the supporting and fastening portions for the bar grating.

It has proved to be especially advantageous in this case for the bargrating to have associated with it a rectangular retaining frame whereofat least two parallel limbs take the form of profiled pieces of C-shapedcross-section in which the carrier rodsare releasably fastened viaclamping portions resting on their second flange. The clamping portionsmay take the form of threaded plates displaceably guided in the C-shapedprofiled pieces, into which plates there may be turned tighteningscrews, preferably with milled heads, mounted in the second flange onthe carrier bars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional perspective view of a grating builtin accord withthe principles of the invention in the form of a coverwhich can be stood on for an overflow channel in swimming pools,

FIG. 2 shows in a larger scale, part of the grating according to FIG. 1as viewed in the longitudinal direction,

FIG. 3 shows on a still larger scale a profile view of the grating barsaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a grating whichcan be stood on in the form of a cover for a heating channel disposed inthe floor in front of a door,

FIG. 5 shows in a larger scale an elevational view of the gratingaccording to FIG. 4 as seen in the longitudinal direction, two differentgrating-bar profiles being shown,

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged profile view of one gratingbar embodimentaccording to FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged profile view of the other grating bar accordingto FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a grating according to the inventionin the form of a cover for a ventilation opening disposed in a wall,

FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section through the bar grating according toFIG. 8,

FIG. shows a mounting frame for the grating according to FIG. 8,

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of grating shown in FIG. 8 combined withthe mounting frame shown in FIG. 10 in place in a wall-opening,

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the grating of FIG. 8, and I FIGS.13 to show various elevations of a linking piece used for the purpose ofpositively coupling the grating bars to the carrier bars extendingtransversely thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to FIG. 1 of thedrawing, beside a swimming pool 1 there is an overflow channel 2 whichreceives and collects the water which runs over from the swimming poolwhen waves are formed and, if desired, returns said water to theswimming pool. This overflow channel 2 is covered by a bar grating 3 inwhich the upper side is substantially flush with the floor 4 adjoiningthe overflow channel 2.

The bar grating consists of a fairly large number of grating bars 5extending in the longitudinal direction of the overflow channel 2, saidgrating bars being held spaced from one another by transversely directedcarrier bars 6 including linking pieces 7.

The grating bars 5 take the form of profiled rails of synthetic materialor metal. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each bar has a foot portion 8 andan upwardly extending, laterally directed, angled portion 9 whichadjoins the foot portion 8 at an obtuse angle.

The end of the angled portion 9 directed away from the foot portionmerges at an acute angle into a laterally directed nose 10 which extendssubstantially at a right angle to the foot portion 8. The free end is inthe same plane as that lateral surface of the foot portion 8 from whichthe angled portion 9 extends.

FIG. 3 makes it clear that the foot portion 8 comprises on its lateralsurfaces longitudinally extending toothings 11 having a saw-toothprofile with one steep flank and one gently inclined flank. In thisconnection, the steep flanks of the teeth are directed away from the endof the foot. By way of these toothings 11, the grating bars 5 latchpositively into matched toothings 12 disposed on the walls of grooves 13which are fashioned in the linking pieces 7.

The grooves 13 in the linking pieces 7 are at a uniform distance fromone another, so that the grating bars 5 latched into them acquire acorresponding spacing from one another.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 make clear, the noses 10 of all the grating bars 5extend in the same direction, that is to say towards the swimmingbath 1. As a result of this, the water running over from the swimmingbath 1 is diverted on the shortest path into the overflow channel 2disposed below the bar grating 3. Although the grating bars 5 are ofrelatively narrow profile cross-section, they comprise a relativelylarge surface as a result of the noses 10 which are provided. As aresult, they have the advantage that they can be safely stood on evenwith bare feet.

The bar grating 23 according to FIG. 4 is intended as a cover which canbe stood on for a heating channel 22 disposed immediately beside a doorin the floor 24. Here also, the grating bars' 25 extend in thelongitudinal direction of the heating channel 22, and are carried bytransversely directed carrier bars 26 with the interposition of linkingpieces 27.

The grating bars 25 have, just as do the grating bars 5, a foot portion8 with longitudinally extending sawtoothing 11 which can be latched intocorresponding counter-toothings 12 in the slots 13 in the linking pieces27.

This foot portion 8 is adjoined at an obtuse angle by a laterallydirected angled portion 9, which, in the form of embodiment of thegrating bars 25 in the left-hand part of FIG. 5 and according to FIG. 6,widens upwardly in wedge-shaped fashion, so that the upwardly directedend surface of the angled portion is approximately 50 percent widerthan'the foot portion 8. On the other hand, embodiment of the gratingbars 25 according to the left-hand part of FIG. 5 and according to FIG.7, the angled portion 9 is of such thickness that its upwardly directedend surface has the same width as the thickness of the foot portion 8.

While the grating bars 5 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 are particularlyadvantageously suited to use where the bar gratings are stood on withbare feet, the grating bars 25 according to FIGS. 4 to 7 may be usedwhen the bar gratings are stood on with shoes.

The form of embodiment of the bar grating 23 according to FIG. 5 differsfurther from that according to FIG. 2 in that the linking pieces 27carrying the grating bars 25 and holding on to the carrier bars 26 maybe made up of a plurality of parts 28 of predetermined length, theseparts 28 having at one end a recess 29 and at the other end a projection30 which are of dovetail or similarly cut-back configuration, and maythus be positively engaged with one another.

FIGS. 8 to 12 of the drawing make it clear that bar gratings aspreviously described may also be used as ventilation grids 33 in wallopenings. For building the grating into the building, it is particularlyadvantageous if the bar gratings are equipped with grating barsaccording to FIGS. 6 or 7, because they have a profile shape which isparticuarly favorable for deflecting airflow. However, it would also beconceivable in the case of the ventilation grids 33 to use grating barshaving a profile shape corresponding to FIG. 3.

In the case of the ventilation grids 33, the linking pieces 37 may havepractically the same basic shape as the linking pieces 7 in FIG. 2 orthe pieces 27 in FIG. 5. The carrier bars 36 are given such across-sectional shape that the ventilation grid 33 can be fastenedoutside the longitudinal region of the grating bars. For this purpose,they are of substantially Z-shaped crosssection, one flange 36 oftheprofile holding the linking pieces 37, while the other flange 36 of theprofile con stitutes the supporting and fastening portion for theventilation grid 33 beside the ventilation aperture. It may be seen fromFIG. 9 how the ventilation grid 33 is directly fastened by means of theZ-profile carrier rods 36 to the periphery of the ventilation openings.However, it is also possible to equip the ventilation aperture with amounting frame 40, as shown in FIG. 10. At least the upright limbs 41 ofthis building-in frame 40 consist of profiled pieces of C-shapedcross-section, which serve as fastening portions for the ventilationgrid.

For this purpose, as may be seen from FIG. 11, the flanges 36 of thecarrier bars 36 are equipped with clamping screws 42 whereof theclamping plates 43 may be introduced into the limbs 41 of the frame.After these clamping plates have been rotated into a transverse position(FIG. they constitute a counterbearing for the clamping screws 42, sothat the ventilation grid 33 can be fastened in easily releasablefashion in the building-in frame by way of said clamping screws 43.

The carrier bars 6 (FIG. 2); 26 (FIG. 5) and 36 (FIG. 8) are provided ineach case with cut-back ledges 50, for example, of T-shapedcross-section, as is particularly clearly apparent from FIG. 12. Thelinking pieces 7, 27 or 37 can be fixed in positive fashion onto theseledges by way of correspondingly cut-back foot portions 41 (FIG. theselinking pieces 7, 27, 37 in turn holding the grating bars 5 and inpositive fashion.

A particularly advantageous form of construction for the linking piecesis shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The linking pieces take the form here ofprefabricated elements of definite length which can be linked to oneanother in any desired number of means of coupling members 29 and beforebeing pushed by way of their foot portions 51 on to the ledges 50 of thecarrier bars 6, 26, 36.

The grating bars 5, 25 may be inserted into the individual parts 28 ofthe linking pieces before these parts 28 are linked to the carrier bars6, 26, 36. This method produces sections of bar grating of definitewidth which constitute basic structural elements. Any desired number ofsuch basic structural elements may then be joined together by way of thecoupling parts 29, 30 of the linking pieces in such a manner that theyconstitute the finished bar grating after having been pushed on to theprofiled ledge 50 of the carrier bars 6, 26, 36. It will be realisedthat bar gratings of the most varied design may be quickly and simplyfabricated in any desired size and for the most widely differingpurposes by using the elements hereinbefore-described. Merely the lengthof the profiled grating bars must yet be defined by suitable cutting.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent 1. Grating for covering openings,wherein grate bars are held in spaced relationship by carrier barsextending transversely of their longitudinal direction, the grate bars(5, 25) consisting of profiled rails which have a laterally directedangled portion (9) above their fastening (7, 27, 37) to the carrier bars(6, 26, 36), the angled portions (9) of all the grate bars (5, 25)extending in the same direction, the angled portion (9) of the gratebars (5, 25) adjoining a foot portion (8) at an obtuse angle, thethickness of the angled portion (9) being the same as the thickness ofthe foot portion (8), the part of the angled portion (9) which isdirected away at an obtuse angle from the foot portion (8) beingconnected at an acute angle with a nose (10), the nose (10) extends at aright angle to the foot portion (8), the free end of the nose (10) beingin the same plane as the lateral surface of the foot portion (8) awayfrom which the angle portion (9) is directed, the profiled railsconstituting the grate bars (5, 25) having toothings (11) on the lateralsurfaces of their foot portions (8), while linking pieces (7, 27, 37)fastened (50, 51) thereto have retaining slots (13) with correspondinglymatched toothings (12), the toothings (l1, 12) being capable of beingpositively latched to one another, the toothings (ll, 12) having asaw-tooth profile, each tooth having one steep flank and one gentlyinclined flank, the steep flanks in the retaining slots (13) beingdirected towards the base of the slot and those on the foot portions (8)being directed away from the end of the foot,

characterized by the fact that the profiled rails constituting the gratebars (5, 25) are anchored by way of their foot portions (8) to saidlinking pieces (7, 27, 37) which rest positively by means of rearwardretaining shoes on cut-back ledges extending longitudinally of carrierbars (6, 26, 36).

2. Grating according to claim 1 in the form of a cover for ventilationapertures,

characterized by the fact that the carrier bars (36) are of Z-shapedcross-section, and carry on the inside of one flange (36) the cut-backledge (50) for the purpose of securing the linking pieces (37).

3. Grating according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that thesecond flange (36 of the carrier bars (36) constitutes the supportingand fastening portions for the grate bars.

4. Grating according to claim 18, characterized by a rectangular frame(40; FIG. 10) wherein at least two parallel limbs (41) consist ofprofiled pieces of C- shaped cross-section in which the carrier bars(36) are releasably fastened by way of clamping portions (42) resting ontheir second flange (36 5.-Grating according to claim 4,

characterized by the fact that clamping portions in the form of threadedplates (43) are displaceably guided in the C-shaped profiled pieces 41),and tightening screws (42), preferably with a milled head, mounted inthe second flange (36 of the carrier bars (36) can be turned into saidthreaded plates.

6. Grating as recited in claim 1,

characterized by the fact that the thickness of the angled portion (9)increases after the manner of a wedge from the float portion (8) towardthe free end.

7. Grating for covering openings,'wherein grate bars are held in spacedrelationship by carrier bars extending transversely of theirlongitudinal direction, the grate bars (5, 25) consisting of profiledrails which have a laterally directed angled portion (9) above theirfastening (7, 27, 37) to the carrier bars (6, 26, 36), the angledportions (9) of all the grate bars (5, 25) extending in the samedirection, the angled portion (9) of the grate bars (5, 25) adjoining afoot portion (8) at an obtuse angle, the profiled rails constituting thegrate bars (5, 25) having toothings (11) on the lateral surfaces oftheir foot portions (8), while linking pieces (7, 27, 37) fastened (50,51) thereto have retaining slots (13) with correspondingly matchedtoothings (12), the toothings (11, 12) being capable of being positivelylatched to one another, the toothings (ll, 12) having a saw-toothprofile, each tooth having one steep flank and one gently inclinedflank, the steep flanks in the retaining slots (13) being directedtowards the base of the slot and those on the foot portions (8) beingdirected away from the end of the foot,

characterized by the fact that the profiled rails constituting the gratebars (5, 25) are anchored by way of their foot portions (8) to saidlinking pieces (7, 27, 37) which rest positively by means of rearwardretaining shoes on cut-back ledges extending longitudinally of carrierbars (6, 26, 36).

1. Grating for covering openings, wherein grate bars are held in spacedrelationship by carrier bars extending transversely of theirlongitudinal direction, the grate bars (5, 25) consisting of profiledrails which have a laterally directed angled portion (9) above theirfastening (7, 27, 37) to the carrier bars (6, 26, 36), the angledportions (9) of all the grate bars (5, 25) extending in the samedirection, the angled portion (9) of the grate bars (5, 25) adjoining afoot portion (8) at an obtuse angle, the thickness of the angled portion(9) being the same as the thickness of the foot portion (8), the part ofthe angled portion (9) which is directed away at an obtuse angle fromthe foot portion (8) being connected at an acute angle with a nose (10),the nose (10) extends at a right angle to the foot portion (8), the freeend of the nose (10) being in the same plane as the lateral surface ofthe foot portion (8) away from which the angle portion (9) is directed,the profiled rails constituting the grate bars (5, 25) having toothings(11) on the lateral surfaces of their foot portions (8), while linkingpieces (7, 27, 37) fastened (50, 51) thereto have retaining slots (13)with correspondingly matched toothings (12), the toothings (11, 12)being capable of being positively latched to one another, the toothings(11, 12) having a saw-tooth profile, each tooth having one steep flankand one gently inclined flank, the steep flanks in the retaining slots(13) being directed towards the base of the slot and those on the footportions (8) being directed away from the end of the foot, characterizedby the fact that the profiled rails constituting the grate bars (5, 25)are anchored by way of their foot portions (8) to said linking pieces(7, 27, 37) which rest positively by means of rearward retaining shoeson cut-back ledges extending longitudinally of carrier bars (6, 26, 36).2. Grating according to claim 1 in the form of a cover for ventilationapertures, characterized by the fact that the carrier bars (36) are ofZ-shaped cross-section, and carry on the inside of one flange (361) thecut-back ledge (50) for the purpose of securing the linking pieces (37).3. Grating according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that thesecond flange (362) of the carrier bars (36) constitutes the supportingand fastening portions for the grate bars.
 4. Grating according to claim18, characterized by a rectangular frame (40; FIG. 10) wherein at leasttwo parallel limbs (41) consist of profiled pieces of C-shapedcross-section in which the carrier bars (36) are releasably fastened byway of clamping portions (42) resting on their second flange (362). 5.Grating according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that clampingportions in the form of threaded plates (43) are displaceably guided inthe C-shaped profiled pieces (41), and tightening screws (42),preferably with a milled head, mounted in the second flange (362) of thecarrier bars (36) can be turned into said threaded plates.
 6. Grating asrecited in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the thickness of theangled portion (9) increases after the manner of a wedge from the floatportion (8) toward the free end.
 7. Grating for covering openings,wherein grate bars are held in spaced relationship by carrier barsextending transversely of their longitudinal direction, the grate bars(5, 25) consisting of profiled rails Which have a laterally directedangled portion (9) above their fastening (7, 27, 37) to the carrier bars(6, 26, 36), the angled portions (9) of all the grate bars (5, 25)extending in the same direction, the angled portion (9) of the gratebars (5, 25) adjoining a foot portion (8) at an obtuse angle, theprofiled rails constituting the grate bars (5, 25) having toothings (11)on the lateral surfaces of their foot portions (8), while linking pieces(7, 27, 37) fastened (50, 51) thereto have retaining slots (13) withcorrespondingly matched toothings (12), the toothings (11, 12) beingcapable of being positively latched to one another, the toothings (11,12) having a saw-tooth profile, each tooth having one steep flank andone gently inclined flank, the steep flanks in the retaining slots (13)being directed towards the base of the slot and those on the footportions (8) being directed away from the end of the foot, characterizedby the fact that the profiled rails constituting the grate bars (5, 25)are anchored by way of their foot portions (8) to said linking pieces(7, 27, 37) which rest positively by means of rearward retaining shoeson cut-back ledges extending longitudinally of carrier bars (6, 26, 36).